The Osun State government does not acknowledge OWU, according to Alimi.

The Osun State Government has officially declared the Osun Workers Union (OWU) as an illegal entity, contending that it lacks recognition and does not genuinely represent the interests of workers in the state.

In an official statement endorsed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government emphasized its exclusive acknowledgment of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) as the legitimate workers’ unions.

Recent criticism from a faction of workers operating under the umbrella of the Osun Workers Union, accusing the state government of unjustly attributing the non-payment of March salary and promotion arrears to innocent civil servants, prompted the government’s response.

Dismissing the claims of the OWU as baseless, Alimi asserted, “We view the concoction, resembling the tactics of a distressed opposition, as disseminated through a nonexistent labor body, disseminating false information against the government.”

Alimi clarified, “It is imperative for public awareness that the sole recognized bodies for workers in Osun State, and by extension, Nigeria as a whole, are the NLC, TUC, and JNC, all of which maintain a positive relationship with Governor Adeleke’s administration.”

He further stated, “We affirm that, following a thorough investigation, the so-called Osun Workers Union (OWU) is a fictitious group existing only on paper with the sole intent of deceiving the public, particularly our hardworking and dedicated workers whose support for the Adeleke-led government is unwavering.”

While expressing the Adeleke administration’s appreciation for the contributions of all workers, Alimi emphasized that those propagating the recent misinformation lacked rationality.